The PREFACE. 1. “THE _kingdom of |God|,” saith our blessed |Lord|, “is within you.” It is no outward, no distant thing: “but a well of living water” in the soul, “springing up into everlasting life.” It is “righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” It is holiness and happiness._ 2. _The general manner wherein it pleases |God| to set it up in the heart is this. A sinner, being drawn by the love of the Father, enlightened by the Son (“the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”) and convinced of sin by the Holy Ghost; through the preventing grace which is given him freely, cometh weary and heavy laden, and casteth all his sins upon him that is “mighty to save.” He receiveth from him, true living faith. Being justified by faith he hath peace with |God|: he rejoices in hope of the glory of |God|, and knows that sin hath no more dominion over him. And the love of |God| is shed abroad in his heart, producing all holiness of heart and of conversation._ 3. _This work of |God| in the soul of man is so described in the following treatise, as I have not seen it in any other, either antient or modern, in our own or any other language. So that I cannot but value it next to the holy scriptures, above any other human composition, excepting only the |Christian pattern|, and the small remains of Clemens Romanus, Polycarp, and |Ignatius|._ 4. _Yet this great servant of |God| at some times fell back from the glorious liberty he had received, into the spirit of fear and sin and bondage. But why was it thus? Because the hand of the |Lord| was shortened? No verily: but because he did not abide in |Christ|; because he did not cleave to him with all his heart: because he grieved the holy Spirit, by some, perhaps undiscerned, unfaithfulness; who thereupon for a season departing from him, left him weak and like another man._ 5. _But it may be said, “The gospel covenant does not promise entire freedom from sin.” What do you mean by the word sin? Those numberless weaknesses and follies, sometimes (improperly) termed sins of infirmity? If you mean only this, we shall not put off these but with our bodies. But if you mean, “It does not promise entire freedom from sin, in its proper sense, or from committing sin:” this is by no means true, unless the scripture be false: for thus it is written: “whosoever is born of |God| doth not commit sin:” (unless he lose the spirit of adoption, if not finally, yet for awhile, as did this child of God) “for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of |God|.” He cannot sin so long as “he keepeth himself;” for then “that wicked one toucheth him not.”_ 1 John iii. 9, 5, 18.